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What is the social construction of reality?

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When sociologists speak about the "social construction of reality," what do they mean? And why is it an important concept to take into account when attempting to understand and explain human social behavior?
Specifically, explain and discuss W.I. Thomas' statement: if men define a situation as real, it is real in its consequences. What is he saying and what is its significance in the study of human social behavior?

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The social construction of reality is determined.

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When sociologists speak about the "social construction of reality," what do they mean? And why is it an important concept to take into account when attempting to understand and explain human social behavior?
Social construction of reality is based on the theory that people who know each other or meet will base their opinions of the other and the other's actions on experience of culture, values, and beliefs. As a person or a group identifies with behaviors and traits of persons, the form conceptions about how the person and others like him/her will act and react. This is knowledge based on prior experience. As time passes, these conceptions become the basis of our interactions with others, using learned behaviors and learned expectations to interact with others. Anytime this information or behavior is accepted and ...

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